Question about ear training

A few months ago I bought "Hearing and Writing Music" by Ron Gorow (is this a good book?). He suggests learning the intervals by singing them. I can now sing the ascending and descending octaves, major 3rd, perfect fourth and perfect 5th. but when I went to a web site and was using the interval identification exercises I had a really, really hard time. What is the reason for this and what do I do?

Thanks,

Michael

I guess the problem is probably just the fact that only your own voice has learnt the intervals, not necisserily your ears. The best way to get good at knowing intervals when you hear them is to simply use a scale.

eg. if the interval was 'C' 'E', after you hear them sing them out loud a few times so they're stck in your head, then count from the top one to the bottom one:

"E, D,C"

I'm sure you'll be able to tell whether it's major or minor :)

Another common way people hear intervals is to pick some songs/common things that use the intervals. here are some examples:

Minor 2nd: Theme from Jaws

Major 2nd: Doh Re Me etc.

Minor 3rd: Lullaby

Major 3rd: major arpeggio

Minor 6th: The Entertainer (the bit after the intro, play it and you'll see)

Major 6th: My Bonnie Lies over the water...

Octave: somewhere over the rainbow (some= C Where= C but an octave higher)

if you googled it i'm sure you can find a list, hope what I said helped at all.

A really good ear traing website as well is www.musictheory.net

Practice makes perfect.

I used his book to much success, I think the problem is you're used to producing the intervals but identifying them is something you're not used to so when you use whatever you're using, after u hear the pitches, sing them and then sing the other intervals you know until there's a match and eventually you won't have to sing them

I think one of the most helpful things you can do is plunk around on the piano. Hearing what you are playing while having a visual aid with which you can draw reference is far underrated.

Thanks for all the advice. I will continue working at it.

I wanted to know about this as well, thanks for posting the question Micheal, and thanks for the advice dark dragon and Jim...

IAnother common way people hear intervals is to pick some songs/common things that use the intervals. here are some examples:

Minor 2nd: Theme from Jaws

Major 2nd: Doh Re Me etc.

Minor 3rd: Lullaby

Major 3rd: major arpeggio

Minor 6th: The Entertainer (the bit after the intro, play it and you'll see)

Major 6th: My Bonnie Lies over the water...

Octave: somewhere over the rainbow (some= C Where= C but an octave higher)

if you googled it i'm sure you can find a list, hope what I said helped at all.

Practice makes perfect.

Well put. If you're lazy, here are some more...

Perfect 4: Wedding Song (Here Comes the Bride)

Augmented 4(Tri-tone(I know a couple)): 'Maria' from West Side Story, "Maria, I just met a girl named..."

: 'The simpsons' the choir intro

Perfect 5th:'Flintstones' (The notes of 'Flintstones')

Minor 7th:Also from somewhere over the rainbow...the last line "There's A" land that I hear of. There's A......is a minor 7th.

Well put. If you're lazy, here are some more...

Perfect 4: Wedding Song (Here Comes the Bride)

Augmented 4(Tri-tone(I know a couple)): 'Maria' from West Side Story, "Maria, I just met a girl named..."

: 'The simpsons' the choir intro

Perfect 5th:'Flintstones' (The notes of 'Flintstones')

Minor 7th:Also from somewhere over the rainbow...the last line "There's A" land that I hear of. There's A......is a minor 7th.

OK thank. I would prefer to stay away from this method however, I feel it would interfere with the music I am trying to dictate.

This is all very beginning process, obviously. When I sight read a piece now, I'm not saying "Flintstones meet the jetsons jaws here comes the bride the entertainer over the rainbow" all in my mind. But, if you have some time to look at a piece, and don't have a piano for instance, this quickly helps you identify the sound of an interval on paper if you aren't sure of it, and have no way of playing it.

Don't forget about NBC!!!!! (maj 6) (that other song doesn't do it for my kids! :) )

Well put. If you're lazy, here are some more...

Perfect 4: Wedding Song (Here Comes the Bride)

Augmented 4(Tri-tone(I know a couple)): 'Maria' from West Side Story, "Maria, I just met a girl named..."

: 'The simpsons' the choir intro

Perfect 5th:'Flintstones' (The notes of 'Flintstones')

Minor 7th:Also from somewhere over the rainbow...the last line "There's A" land that I hear of. There's A......is a minor 7th.

Minor 7th = "Somewhere" from West Side Story. "There's a place for us..." :thumbsup:

Haha ya I always use the NBC theme to find major sixths!